#5 in the Millennium SF Masterworks series, a library of the finest science fiction ever written. "Science fiction has only produced a few works of actual genius, and this is one of them"-Joe Haldeman"Bester at the peak of his powers is, quite simply, unbeatable" -James LovegroveMarooned in outer space after an attack on his ship, Nomad, Gulliver Foyle lives to obsessively pursue the crew of a rescue vessel that had intended to leave him to die.When it comes to pop ...

"Dazzlement and enchantment are Bester's methods. His stories never stand still a moment."—Damon Knight, author of Why Do BirdsAlfred Bester took science fiction into hyperdrive, endowing it with a wit, speed, and narrative inventiveness that have inspired two generations of writers. And nowhere is Bester funnier, speedier, or more audacious than in these seventeen short stories—two of them previously unpublished—that have now been brought together in a single volume for t...

#4 in the Millennium SF Masterworks series, a library of the finest science fiction ever written.“One of the all-time classics of science fiction.”—Isaac Asimov“Bester's two superb books have stood the test of time. For nearly sixty years they’ve held their place on everybody’s list of the ten greatest sf novels” —Robert SilverbergIn a world policed by telepaths, Ben Reich plans to commit a crime that hasn’t been heard of in 70 years: murder. That’s the only option ...

Imagination and Social Criticism3rd EditionA spectacular analysis of science fiction by the masters of the genre!Based on a 1957 lecture series at the University of Chicago.Does science fiction have any real effect as a force of social criticism? This question has been given much thought and discussion, but until the publication of this volume there was no definitive inquiry available in book form. Here are four sharply different analyses of the question: a ...

Take two parts of Beelzebub, two of Israfel, one of Monte Cristo, one of Cyrano, mix violently, season with mystery and you have Mr. Solon Aquila. He is tall, gaunt, sprightly in manner, bitter in expression, and when he laughs his dark eyes turn into wounds. His occupation is unknown. He is wealthy without visible means of support. He is seen everywhere and understood nowhere.

The Push of a Finger—or a careless word, for that matter—can wreck the entire universe. Think not? Well, if it happened this way…

The editors at www.fantasticstoriesoftheimagination.com present Fantasy and Science Fiction from the Present, Past, and Future. The Cold Calculations by Michael A. Burstein, They Twinkled like Jewels by Philip José Farmer, Lingua Franca by Carole McDonnell, Dawn of Flame by Stanley G. Weinbaum, Don’t Jump by Jamie Wild, Youth by Isaac Asimov, Digger Don't Take No Requests by John Teehan, Lighter than You Think by Nelson Bond, Garden of Souls by M. Turville Heitz, The Variable Man by Philip...

Our 64th issue is a bit of a celebration—our American holiday, Thanksgiving, is nearly upon us, so we have a couple of other seasonally appropriate stories which I hope you will enjoy. (I trust our international readers will enjoy them as much as we do here.)Our acquiring editors have been busy. Michael Bracken has an original tale by Andrew Welsh-Huggins, and Barb Goffman has a turkey tale from modern master John M. Floyd. Cynthia Ward is off again this week, but she will have mor...

In the glittering yet treacherous world of 1950s Manhattan television, successful scriptwriter Jordan Lennox has built the perfect life—until anonymous threatening letters begin arriving at the studio. As the writer of the hit variety show Who He?, Lennox knows the brutal reality behind the glamorous façade of network TV. Now, with a mysterious enemy plotting violence for the live New Year's broadcast, Lennox must navigate a maze of suspicious colleagues, industry politics, and hi...

The story is set in a futuristic society where telepathy is a reality, allowing individuals to communicate mind-to-mind. The central character, Eddie, is a telepath who works as a mental detective. His abilities allow him to delve into the thoughts and memories of others, but they also come with significant ethical and emotional challenges.The narrative unfolds as Eddie is called to investigate a complex case involving a murder. The twist is that the murder has a unique aspect: the perpetr...

Take two parts of Beelzebub, two of Israfel, one of Monte Cristo, one of Cyrano, mix violently, season with mystery and you have Mr. Solon Aquila. He is tall, gaunt, sprightly in manner, bitter in expression, and when he laughs his dark eyes turn into wounds. His occupation is unknown. He is wealthy without visible means of support. He is seen everywhere and understood nowhere.

Who He? by Alfred Bester (also published as *The Rat Race*) is a razor-sharp psychological novel that dives into the chaotic world of postwar television, fame, and paranoia. Known for his inventive storytelling and brilliant character studies, Bester crafts a gripping, darkly humorous tale of a successful TV writer whose world begins to unravel under the pressures of modern celebrity and hidden guilt.The story follows a talented but tormented man c...